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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Hiking

Recently, we went hiking for the second time at the Mann Wilderness area. We started on a very good, well-maintained trail; then we tired of the easy way and followed a deer path into the woods. Down one steep hill we went, jumped a creek (we each have our own style--either jump over a narrow part, step on stones in a shallow part, or walk over the creek on a log), and then the younger ones of us left the older ones at the creek and, abandoning all trails, ran up the next, (even steeper) hill. Running, sliding, and falling back down the hills is the fun part, and we spent quite a bit of time hiking up and down various hills before our rendezvous and trek back home.

Early spring is the perfect time of year for a hike. Flowers of all types were blooming and more than made up for the presence of annoying ticks.

The simple and yet extraordinarily magnificent beauty God has chosen to bestow on the earth reminds me of St. Francis of Assisi's Sermon to the Birds:

"My little sisters, the birds, much bounden are ye unto God, your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere, and hath also given you double and triple raiment; moreover He preserved your seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden to Him for the element of the air which He hath appointed for you; beyond this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains for your drink; the mountains and the valleys for your refuge and the high trees whereon to make your nests; and because ye know not how to spin or sew, God clotheth you, you and your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing that He hath bestowed on you so many benefits; and therefore, my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praises unto God."

If the birds should be grateful to God whose "Eye is on the sparrow," we really should be thankful. Psalm 33 says, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy..." God cares enough to create delicate flowers, and He is so strong that He created the hills by His word. He is watching over us and will take good care of us, His children. God's love for us will last longer than the everlasting hills. It will last forever.